The Critical Need for Surgical Readiness
Healthcare professionals constantly seek ways to enhance patient care, particularly in surgical settings. With over 11% of people undergoing surgery annually, addressing patient anxiety becomes crucial. While surgical teams operate in their element, patients often face overwhelming fear and uncertainty.
At UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Chief Nursing Officer Anita H. Becker, DNP, RN, identified a significant opportunity: “The genesis of our process improvement work is to improve the patient experience, reduce anxiety and fear, and ultimately improve psychological readiness for surgery.”
Traditional surgical improvement efforts typically focus on efficiency metrics—scheduling to discharge timing—rather than emotional preparedness. Through pre- and post-operative follow-ups, the team discovered consistent patterns of patient anxiety. This feedback became the catalyst for meaningful change beyond standard efficiency measurements.
Identifying the Patient Readiness Gap
The challenge emerged when trying to define and measure “readiness” for meaningful analysis. The team conducted literature reviews but found limited research addressing psychological preparation for surgery.
“What they found was a paucity of literature available to address psychological readiness for surgery, and most of what was found addressed fear and anxiety,” Becker explained. “We knew we were on the right track, but we also knew we were in new territory.”
This knowledge gap highlighted the need for innovative approaches to understand patient concerns more comprehensively.
AI Integration: A Game-Changing Approach
The breakthrough came through collaboration with Chris Whelchel, founder and CEO of HealthTok, a healthcare consulting firm based in Boulder, Colorado. Initially working independently during his doctoral practicum at UCHealth, Whelchel introduced artificial intelligence and ambient technology solutions.
“Prior to the process improvement project, we had not considered leveraging AI tools or ambient technology in our workspace for tackling these types of large data collections or analysis,” Becker noted.
The AI implementation transformed their capability to process patient feedback:
“Within minutes of the conclusion of our focus groups, we had first-pass workflows and work plans, including themes, key trends and strategies, generated through AI tools.”
Perhaps most valuably, the technology helped eliminate staff bias toward predetermined solutions like aromatherapy or music therapy, allowing genuine patient needs to emerge.
Surprising Patient Priorities Revealed
The focus groups yielded unexpected insights that traditional analysis might have missed. Two prominent themes emerged that weren’t on the team’s radar:
- Increased caregiver involvement in pre- and post-operative care instructions
- Pet care concerns during surgery and recovery periods
“These were two themes that were not on our radar but were filtered and identified through the ambient technology tool,” Becker emphasized.
The AI-powered approach delivered comprehensive analysis in minutes rather than hours, generating flowcharts, summaries, task lists, and unbiased insights.
Dramatic Improvement in Patient Satisfaction
The implementation of AI-identified solutions yielded remarkable results. In the quarter following implementation, patient experience scores reached 100%—a dramatic improvement attributed directly to the new approach.
Specific improvements included:
- New communication protocols
- Better utilization of existing EHR tools
- Significant workflow changes across perioperative departments
“We are a work in progress and cautiously optimistic this improvement in patient experience will continue and become standard practice,” Becker added.
Best Practices for AI Implementation in Healthcare
For organizations considering similar AI adoption, Becker offers critical guidance:
“First and foremost, it is important to choose an expert with healthcare experience,” she advises. Healthcare-specific knowledge ensures alignment with industry mission while navigating regulatory compliance, patient privacy, and data security.
Additional considerations include:
- Clearly defined project goals
- Data quality assurance
- Scalability evaluation
- Regulatory compliance prioritization
- Patient trust cultivation
Transparency with patients remains essential. All focus group participants received full information about data collection and usage, with opportunities to view AI outputs and provide feedback. Patients not only consented but expressed fascination with the technology’s capabilities.
The Future of AI-Enhanced Patient Care
Becker emphasizes following organizational policies regarding AI integration while remaining open to possibilities: “These tools can and have increased productivity and efficiency, not just with this process improvement project, but in my everyday work.”
The UCHealth example demonstrates how strategic, patient-focused AI implementation can transform healthcare delivery. By leveraging technology responsibly and ethically, organizations can achieve both operational efficiency and improved patient experiences in projects of all scales.
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